I went to Bradys for a simple oil-change. They don't charge by the actual job, but rather break it down into what it entails.
For example: Oil change requires new oil, oil filter, check other fluids, etc.
Cheaper services can definately be had elsewhere. $22.00 was the cost of my oil-change. When I asked the mechanic initially about the oil-change, I also inquired as to what the squeaking was under my hood. While the car was up on the rack, and without my permission, he proceeded to take out the alternator and put it back in. He told me the squeaking was the alternator, and that it needed to be replaced. I told him the alternator was replaced only 3 months prior by the dealership and I had a lifetime warranty on it, so I didn't think it should be replaced.
When I went to pay my bill for the oil-change, added to it was another $40.00 for him to inspect the alternator, which I didn't ask him to do. When confronted by this, he said that the $40.00 could be used as a downpayment on having the alternator replaced. I asked to speak to the owner, who looked over the receipt, and I told him I needed to have the $40.00 removed from the bill asap. After 15 minutes of haggling it out, I got the charge taken off, but not without some serious words being spoken.
Be careful what you ask these mechanics to check for. Brady's has a "menu" board of sorts, that gives you an idea of how much your work is going to cost you, but, that doesn't mean that's what they're sticking with. There was no estimate given previous to the alternator being inspected, so if you go to this Service Center, make sure you look your bill over very carefully.
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